Category Archives: Academic

“Where Ox and Ass are Feeding…”

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Bob Bjerkaas

The leftover turkey, cranberry salad, and pumpkin pie are gone and after a long and hard year, we are beginning our celebration of Advent.  The lights are beginning to go up on our streets, and the sweet sound of carols … Continue reading →

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Name Recognition and Christian Ministry

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Bob Bjerkaas

Branding our churches, ministries, and even personalities in Christian, vocational service is a thing.  Really.  And it is an important thing.  If you want to publish a book, Christian publishing companies want to know how many friends you have on … Continue reading →

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A NEW TRANSLATION?

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Bob Bjerkaas

There is a story I have been told that may verge on the apocryphal.  I have heard that one of my emigrant Norwegian Great-Grandmothers was somewhat distressed when her Norwegian Lutheran Church in Minnesota switched from using the Norwegian Bible … Continue reading →

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A Tenth Century English Christmas

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Bob Bjerkaas

This past Spring I stumbled across a great find in my good friend’s used bookshop.  It was a well-worn, expertly highlighted edition of Jackson Campbell’s highly regarded translation of the Advent antiphons from the Exeter Book.[1]  Intending to read it this … Continue reading →

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The Representative Christian

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Bob Bjerkaas

During times of socio-political angst, Christians are often perplexed about how to participate in a secular culture.  Whatever we do, or any segment of society for that matter, participation can be challenging.  We are sometimes caricatured as  SNL’s “Church Lady” or, more viciously, … Continue reading →

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God’s Victory over Man’s Wrath: B.B. Warfield and Psalm 76:10: A Difficult Doctrine Illustrated in Church History

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Bob Bjerkaas

Psalm 76:10 is a difficult verse.  In its simplest translation, it reads, “Surely the wrath of men brings you praise, and with the remainder of wrath you arm yourself.”[1]  This verse, in a nutshell as it were, presents the student … Continue reading →

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The Boundaries of Knowledge

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Bob Bjerkaas

We all spend much of our lives attempting to discover, move, accommodate, or ignore boundaries.  Toddlers want to see how many times Daddy will pick the spoon up off the floor.  Children wait to see what will happen if they … Continue reading →

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Faith and Works: Ancient Advice on a Modern Confusion

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Bob Bjerkaas

“All sensible people, not to mention Christians, should watch with the greatest care what they say, lest their tongue get ahead of their mind and babble forth before they have organized their thoughts.”[1] Urbanus Rhegius, 1535 Lately I have been … Continue reading →

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“Logic on Fire” – Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Bob Bjerkaas

“You must have light and heat, sermon plus preaching.  Light without heat  never affects anybody; heat without light is of no permanent value.  It may have a passing temporary effect but it does not really help your people and build … Continue reading →

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